29. the Molesey News
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Issue 29 | Spring 2018 DOMINIC RAAB MP will The discuss local issues and take your questions at a public meeting on Thursday 15 March, 7.30pm at St. Lawrence School, Church Rd, East Molesey, KT8 9DR. MoleseyCOMMUNITY NEWS FROM YOUR MOLESEY CONSERVATIVE News CANDIDATE STEVE BAX All welcome. Got a question? Email me: [email protected] | Website: www.facebook.com/MoleseyNews | Twitter: @MoleseySteve ello and welcome to the visit to the borough (pictured). candidate for the enlarged East continue to do. first Molesey News of We’ve also been speaking to Insp Molesey ward and Paul Wood is Some of the sugges- Hthe year. I am former Greg Turner of the local police our excellent candidate in West tions Molesey voters Molesey councillor Steve Bax about what is being done. More on Molesey. We have been busy cam- have for improv- and I produce this newsletter on that in this edition. paigning and speaking to residents ing our community behalf of the Local Conservatives Housing is a huge issue for the about their concerns. include: a crossing by to keep you updated about issues Council at the moment, with the I have been distributing a survey Topps Tiles, a speed concerning our community. government applying pressure to and have had nearly 150 back. The camera on Hurst It’s a busy time for our team. build more homes and bring down results so far show that residents’ Road, and addressing We have been reporting potholes the cost, particularly for key work- top three priorities are safeguard- the lack of affordable to Surrey County Council, meet- ers and first time buyers. ing Molesey’s open spaces and homes - ‘I have been ing residents affected by planning You can read more about that and environment, the state of the roads renting for six years issues and by the illegally moored what it means for our area in our and local health care. and cannot afford to boats at West Molesey. I took Elm- lead article below and can question Keeping council tax low, tack- buy’ a resident said. focused on what you want us to bridge Council to task on behalf of MP Dominic Raab, the new Hous- ling parking and congestion and Coordinating buses and trains at deliver. a local mum over the poor state of ing Minister, directly about this helping local shops were also Hampton Court, tackling all-day The elections are on 3 May and the play equipment at Molesey Rec and any other local and national prominent issues for residents. A commuter parking at Graburn Way are a chance to get the change we and was successful in getting this matters when he joins us for a pub- majority said the most important and addressing the lack of an NHS need in Molesey and at Elmbridge. fixed. lic meeting at St Lawrence School, attribute for a local councillor is dentist, bank, central post office Paul and I look forward to meet- Earlier this year, I was able to 7.30pm on 15 March. that they ‘champion local issues’ and secondary school in Molesey. ing you on the doorstep and hear- discuss the worrying spate of bur- Important local elections on 3 and are ‘responsive to residents’ I thank residents for taking the ing your views. Please get in touch glaries in Molesey with the Home May will decide who runs the concerns’ which is what Local time to fill out and return the if you have any questions, or if we Secretary, Amber Rudd, during her council. I am standing as our Conservatives are doing and will surveys. They will help keep us can help in any way. Heathrow public Hurst Lane site consultation Where will the homes go? to be developed n Council must build hundreds of new homes over next decade LANGHAM Homes has been given the go-ahead to build 40 LMBRIDGE Council has houses on the land next to the been given a target of Pavilion club in Hurst Lane. Eenabling 600 new homes The developer was initially to be built in the borough every refused planning permission year for the next decade. by Elmbridge last year on the It’s part of the government’s reasonable grounds that the site WE WERE pleased that determination to tackle the short- is subject to a covenant which Heathrow Airport took up our age of homes nationally, which has reserves it for community sports suggestion to hold one of its pushed up house prices to an aver- and leisure. consultation events in Molesey. age £600,000 in Elmbridge – out of Langham’s appeal was heard Held at Imber Court in early reach of many young families and by a planning inspector at February, it enabled residents key workers which our community the Civic Centre, Esher, in to raise concerns about aircraft needs December and it was announced noise and comment on plans for The response from the Residents in January that planning a third runway. Association political parties and permission had been granted. Molesey Conservatives the Liberal Democrats running the Steve shared the news with attended with Dominic Raab Council, to this housing challenge residents via the well-used East MP. We discussed noise levels has been shambolic. Rather than do & West Molesey Facebook page. over Molesey and air quality the hard work of planning where Steve Bax explains: “It is es- our greenbelt. The Conservative Some welcomed the prospect of - the need for clear limits and new homes could go with the least sential that planning decisions in group had opposed the plans. new homes (including the 20 at independent monitoring. impact, they proposed a quick fix Molesey and Elmbridge are taken “Just imagine what would be in ‘affordable’ reduced rates that Aircraft are switching to a of building more than 5,000 homes by our locally elected representa- their literature now if the Con- are part of the scheme). Others system of precision navigation on three large tracts of our green- tives who know our communities servatives had proposed building were furious that the inspector and decisions must be made on belt (at Long Ditton, Cobham and best - the Coalition needs to get its thousands of homes on the green- had overridden local wishes. whether to concentrate or spread Oxshott). act together quickly or make way belt,” said Cllr Browne. The development is offering a out the routes. These changes Not surprisingly there was a for a Local Conservative adminis- “If a Conservative Administration mini-soccer pitch, outdoor gym will happen irrespective of the huge outcry from 3,760 residents tration, which will get the job done is elected in May we will take a and children’s play area to keep airport expansion. which sent RA/Lib Dem Coalition properly.” more sensible approach to meeting spirit with the leisure covenant. Needless to say the Molesey councillors into full retreat. We are A Local Plan is vital to set out this difficult housing challenge. We The land was reserved for the Conservative position is that the still waiting for an alternative plan where building is considered to be will look at releasing public land, community in the early 1980s noise burden must be shared, not some 12 months later. acceptable. Without one, devel- building on brownfield sites and as part of the agreement which concentrated over our area. The lack of a Local Plan runs the opers who are refused planning building upwards where appropri- gave rise to the Kings Chase Have your say at www. risk of one being imposed centrally permission for any scheme will ate, such as three-storey terraces.” estate. In recent years it has been heathrowconsultation.com by Whitehall civil servants. stand a much better chance of win- Developers will be put on notice fenced off by private owners. ning an appeal. We got a taste of that the Borough will prioritise The inspector agreed that this recently when an appeal gave starter homes and affordable the site had not been used for a green light for the land adjacent homes, said Cllr Browne. recreation for years and said to the Pavilion in Hurst Lane to be He continued: “If we want to pro- the 50% affordable homes was developed, bypassing local wishes. vide homes for our children and for needed due to high house prices The RA/Lib Dem’s failure to key workers our community needs, in Molesey. identify a five-year supply of land like nurses, police and teachers, in the Borough was cited as a rea- then we need to build and put in son for the decision to side with the infrastructure - but we can do it the developers! without sacrificing our open spaces Councillor James or greenbelt. Browne (pictured) is “The lesson is clear – if you the housing spokes- want to safeguard the greenbelt man for the Elmbridge and want a competent and fair Conservative group. approach to tackling the He accuses the The housing need, then you RA/Lib Dems of need to vote Conserva- wasting time by tive in May so that we can pressing on with a regain control of the plan to build over Council.” This newsletter New refurbished Dish, 3 Bridge Road, East Molesey. 020 8941 1095 is sponsored by We are open from 6am Monday to Sunday, so join us for breakfast Never forget, your Molesey Conservative Team of Peter, Steve and Paul is always here for you. Please contact us if you have any problems or concerns relating to East and West Molesey, particularly regarding Elmbridge Borough and Surrey County Councils - we’ll do our best to help.